After weeks of clues posted on the pop star’s social media, Taylor Swift has released a brand new song and video titled ME!, featuring Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie.

The video – directed by Swift and Dave Meyers – opens with a hissing snaked, a clear throwback to her 2017 album.

However, marking the singer’s transition into a new style and sound, the snake bursts into a cloud of pastel-coloured butterflies before the music kicks in and the song begins in earnest.

In the first few moments of the video, viewers see Swift and Urie as a couple having a row in French at their home.

It isn’t long before Swift is doing what she does best: storming off, donning a pastel-coloured pantsuit and dancing around a candy-coloured townscape – until Urie tracks her down and presents her with a very fluffy kitten.

“I know that I’m a handful baby,” she sings. “I know I never think before I jump, and you’re the kind of guy the ladies want, and there’s a lot of cool chicks out there.”

Check it out:

Phew! So what’s it all about?

Well, in an interview with Robin Roberts, Swift explained that ME! is all about self-love and empowerment.

“ME! is a song about embracing your individuality and celebrating it and really owning it. I think that with a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in people’s heads and I just want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves, not worse,” she said.

This idea of ME! being an anthem of self-love and empowerment definitely makes sense – especially when you take a closer look at some of the lyrics.

“But one of these things is not like the others, like a rainbow with all of the colours. Baby doll, when it comes to a lover, I promise that you’ll never find another like me-e-e, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh.

“I’m the only one of me! Baby, that’s the fun of me! Eeh-eeh-eeh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh! You’re the only one of you! Baby, that’s the fun of you! And I promise that nobody’s gonna love you like me.”

Before the track’s release, Roberts asked Swift what she would say to her fans who have been waiting for the big surprise and the singer offered a humble reply.

“Thank you so much for caring about music that I make,” said Swift. “Like, I’m here tonight and I’m seeing these people who’ve worked their whole lives to achieve their dreams in this city.”

Swift finished by thanking Roberts for interviewing her early on in her career.

“You gave me a shot when I was 14 years old, interviewed me when no one else was watching and now I’m getting to play in the stadium down the road, last summer. Like, thank you for everything. I’m just very grateful.”

Image: Getty